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November 2011 Newsletter

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Celebrate International Human Rights Day: Call of your State to Ratify the OP-ICESCR

December 10th of 2011, Human Rights Day: The NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR in collaboration with its members, partners and allies around the world takes this opportunity to reiterate the call for ratification of this mechanism to all countries. The Declaration in support of ratification by eminent jurists from around the world is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.

Jan. 31, 2012: Land for the Yakye Axa and the Enxet People

The Yakye Axa indigenous community can now take possession of the land that the Paraguayan state obtained January 31 2012 in their favor.

Nov. 21, 2011: The Kenyan High Court issues leading ESCR decision

The Kenyan High Court has just issued an important decision on the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs), based on the country's new constitution and international human rights law. The decision was a great achievement for Kenyan civil society, Hakijamii, ESCR-Net, the members of the ESCR-Net's Adjudication Working Group, and our goal of promoting economic, social and cultural rights around the world.

Dec. 5th, 2011: Constitutional Court declares City of Johannesburg's Housing Policy Unconstitutional

ESCR-Net members Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) and Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) in South Africa won a very important case within the Constitutional Court on the right to housing, particularly because of its inclusion of positive State obligations.

Dec. 5th, 2011: Macroeconomics and the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation

This report is the culmination of a two-day experts meeting, "Macroeconomics and the Rights to Water and Sanitation," which took place in Lisbon, Portugal from March 31 to April 1, 2011.

Nov. 29th, 2011: Call for Action- One more step to International Convention on the Rights of Peasants

After a long-sought struggle by La Via Campesina and other organizations for further recognition and protection of the rights of peasants, the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council will present a final study on ways and means to further advance the rights of people working in rural areas (English) (Spanish).

Nov. 9, 2011: Human Rights and Financial Regulation - Survey

The financial crisis of 2008 has exposed the important consequences that government choices made on financial regulations and reforms bear for the enjoyment of human rights such as housing, food, health, etc.

Nov. 2, 2011: Using video to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations

ESCR-Net member WITNESS and the Habitat International Coalition (HIC) are working together to incorporate video advocacy into local and global campaigns on forced evictions across HIC's worldwide network in Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, India and Mexico and will continue into other countries over the course of the 3-year partnership.

Oct. 04, 2011: Paraguay to Restore Indigenous Community's Ancestral Lands

In a landmark ruling on the right to restitution of ancestral lands, Sawhoyamaxa indigenous community leaders, Paraguayan officials and local companies have recently signed an agreement to allow the community to return to their ancestral lands.

Oct. 05, 2011: World Day for Decent Work, 7th October, 2011

Join ESCR-Net member The National Union of Domestic Employees (N.U.D.E.) in efforts to promote the ratification of the ILO Convetnion No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers in Trinidad and other countries in the Caribbean region.  Together with partner unions such as the Jamaica Household Workers Association and Red Thread of Guyana, N.U.D.E. aims to raise awareness among domestic workers regarding their rights and to promote the concept of Decent Work. 

Oct. 05, 2011: ESCR-Net Members Demand that US Congress Respect Human Rights in Budget Decisions

Yesterday, a letter demanding that Congress respect human rights on budget decisions was distributed to Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Nancy Pelosi, and copied to many other Congressional and Administration officials including President Obama.  This letter was signed by 50 organizations spread across the United States, from established national policy groups to grassroots community organizations.

Sept. 27, 2011: ESCR-Net calls on the OAS to approve indicators elaborated by the Working Group to Protocol of San Salvador

ESCR-net called on the General Assembly of the Organization of American States to approve the indicators elaborated by the Working Group to the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Protocol of San Salvador).

9/21/2011: Death By Poverty - Explosion in a Nairobi Slum Reveals Multiple Injustices and Neglect for Fundamental Human Rights

Read the latest about an oil pipeline explosion killing over 160 people in the outskirts of Nairobi, and how frontline human rights activists are mobilizing to resist continuing injustices and realize a life of dignity in Kenya.

UN slams Shell over Nigeria oil pollution

A UN report says it will cost up to $1bn and take 30 years to clean up the damage done by decades of drilling by Shell. Oil exploration in Nigeria's south for several decades has had a debilitating effect on the environment of the region.

Click on the title above to see a short video about oil in Ogoniland.

Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege reports from southern Nigeria

9/9/2011: Response from Marmato, Colombia to the murder of Father José Reinel Restrepo

The Regional Indigenous Council of the department of Caldas and the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective condemn the murder of José Reinel Restrepo, the parish priest of the municipality of Marmato and a defender of the rights of people to survive and remain on their territory.

Oct. 04, 2011: International Conference on the Right to Land and Livelihood

On September 12 and 13, ESCR-Net participated in the International Conference on the Right to Land and Livelihood convened by Ekta Parishad in Geneva, Switzerland. This Indian social movement struggling for the rights of landless and economically marginalized people is seeking to mobilize over 100,000 people across India in a long march - the "Jan Satyagraha" - that will be held in October of 2012. In efforts to globalize this struggle and strengthen ties of international supoport, Ekta Parishad has issued a Declaration of Solidarity and are reaching out- including the membership of ESCR-Net- to join forces in the global struggle for the right to land and livelihood.  

Newsletter du Reseau-DESC - novembre 2011

Two New Countries Ratify the OP-ICESCR this January!

We welcome the Ratifications of Bolivia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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